It is Almost Tomorrow and In Some Places It Is...

Ok--I got carried away with blue...blue this and blue that...oh well.....I like it. 1 minute until it is tomorrow....Sat...it just became Sat. nite nite

Thank G for Sleep

Feeling better all the way around today...my food is reflecting this too. Very helpful conversation with l1...so, very hot today; spent time at the mall, looking for an apartment, getting my nails done...keeping cool...or trying to. Listened to my new art class re making stencils etc. Really like the instructor; very funny and has a cute cat. nite nite

Even Looking at Outer Space

like I suggested in my blog yesterday---does not to be helping me tonight---sleep is a curative too. nite nite c..

If You are Having a Bad Day--Take a Look

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap090503.html I have a link to the stars on my blog...there is a different picture each day and if you go to their site there are so many more....puts what we do into its appropriate perspective and then some...I love looking at our "birth place"-we all come from star dust! The next one is from October 13, 2007, my birthday--go see the one for your birthday! What a show. Could not stop..L1 this is yours....

Walked into WW today

lots of walking into new rooms I have not seen in awhile...good ole WW...started with points again...very positive group support...steps and points. l1 has had lots of success with her plan..go girl...glad she is back from florida.

this picture is in honor of you....l1. Great to see all of your smiling and gleefulness!

Walking into the Club

I got started..with my first.....bike ride....10 minutes at the club and went swiming for 10 minutes....it was beautiful...the doors were open and about 3 people where there; a father and daughter and it reminded me of when my father taught me to swim...sweet sweet times with my dad..a beautiful day with the sun visiting us...sat outside on my tiny patio..over looking the river; watched sailboats, dogs walking their people, read a book, time for and with c...what a concept. Played with art later this afternoon...feel good...my spirit is returning...to love myself first. I have to keep telling myself --it is ok to take care of yourself...your body and spirit are asking you to! and it felt good too...

Just For Fun---stencils and bright fabric

Traveling through Time, Doorways, and Narrow Streets

I tried to leave this response for an art class I am taking online but could not do it: so here it is for me....the pix is of my wall calendar---yes Change is my theme now.

I just watched your video series and I love y9our attitude and visual cents...I am using the words in a different way...love the birds and your kitty cat. What fun this will be. Off to "hunt" for materials...lots of stuff can be used that I already have but want to find more interesting stencil stuff; so basically, thanks a bunch....good bye Michael Jackson...his body was like a human stencil I think...people put on it what they wanted and now he is free from all of that and can be his/her ture self.

Isn't She Beautiful?

Photoshop essence....on fire.

the wonders of Powells' bookstore

Went to Powell's bookstore and heard Margot re her book Hot House

Flower and the 9 Plants of Desire...I liked it but will wait until it comes out in paperback; unless I get it at the library...a trick my friend l1 told me about...it is funny, travel, of course love, and plants with "spells and magic". Bought The Courage to Teach by Palmer and a travel guide re the Pacific NW! Miss u L and H.

Happy Father's Day--To All of You-Current and in the Past

Thank you to all the "dads" both my own father who has not been on mother earth since 1973-36 years! and to all the sweet "dads" of today-----Don, Cornell, Daniel--all ages and all varieties. Love you all.

Dark in Portland

today reminds me of when I was in Anchorage for the summer; it was cloudy all day there like today in Portland; someone asked me today how I am handling the darkness and rain in the winter? I said I was doing pretty good with it but today I am not. Sun please come out and play ok? many shads of grey and more grey

So Mr Curtis? Can we go home?

Another Day with Another Photographer--

Boarding School Ladies

Between "I WANT TO GO" to "ok it is fine not to"

i tried to go to the gay pride events today...i walked about 2 blocks but it was too cold and in my mind i kept saying "what do you really want to do?"--go home and basically nest ALL DAY AND BE BY MYSELF...so that's what i did...too many people yesterday and friday...just too tired and need time for c. learning how to say "no" is still something I am trying to learn and PRACTICE...and listen to what i really want to do...my internal charchar....listen c. --so guess who the graduation picture is? yep landc--cute picture if you ask me.

that time of year

PSU double graduation day plus attending a native high school academy graduation last night...c spoke and sang to the students; it made me cry..and today at the PSU graduation in the morning the speaker made me cry...the smaller MSW graduation in the afternoon did not make me cry...I was too hot and tired...went home and cried...so two full days of crying....oh well...happy graduation to everyone....

What a Week!

Only two days into the week but it feels like 2 months; so much energy toward 

"other"; it is so hard for me to balance my own needs and wants and this high stress job. My weight gain is directly related to this reality...for sure. My foot is not hurting as badily as before; maybe it is healing...so start to slowly walk again...for pleasure not work. Grades will be turned in on Tuesday so that will help a lot...then to think about summer stuff and be more gentle with my own needs...yes, C it is you and you have needs too; you give so much to others...balance and more balance....nite nite

One YEAR

Yep--hard to believe...one year as of 6/6/09--also the last day I have to teach my class for this year....it went very well---it was a bright spot in my week that is for sure...after last t...uck. So, they gave me a beautiful plant who I named "Rose Butterfly" and it made me sneeze the entire afternoon...which was funny....and they gave me a card with so  many sweet statements...all of their words filled me up for sure.  Went home and collapsed. ...then watched several netflix movies...and napped..and watched more netflix...uu in the morning then going to see a play with m. It is 1:00 am I am a getting sleepy...nite...so, being here one year and now into my second year as of one hour. 

June 1st--Happy Birthday Marilyn M

By Marilyn Monroe

"I knew I belonged to the public and to the world, not because I was talented or even beautiful, but because I had never belonged to anything or anyone else. There was my name up in lights. I said, 'God, somebody's made a mistake.' But there it was, in lights. And I sat there and said, 'Remember, you're not a star.' Yet there it was up in lights. I'm going to be a great movie star some day."---------a tiny thought from me---

Thank you Marilyn for giving so much of yourself to everyone else...and not feeling all the love you needed for being human...I love this picture of you---you are smiling and look happy!

TV Stars: NOT--kinda---a little---and a BIG movie star

Aren't we all cute? We were all interviewed by a local native tv station..fun-about 5 minutes in all...a star from "Twilight" is at the farest left. I got his signature for H.

Over a Week---Oh well...welcome back

Photos from a sweet little garden store trip with the n's on Sunday...with a little help from photoshop...I guess I still love purple and pink

Mt Hood--The Long Way

I drove to Mt. Hood via Mt. Hood along the Columbia River---then over to Mt. Hood around the mountain---instead of going straight east on hyway 26...oh well...I saw a lot of the country; wine country too---farms, rivers, bridges, waterfalls, glorious day for a day trip...got home about 3:30ish and watched two movies on netflix then fell asleep...fun day.

Tonight a little photoshop play

These are some pictures I took about a week ago when I went to Astoria; playing with photoshop tonight--went to Mt. Hood (THE MOUNTAIN IN THE EAST)--I think I drove the LONG WAY AROUND THE MOUNTAIN...sure pretty...went to the lodge covered with snow..talk about white privilege...skiers...teenagers...the lodge is dirty and the views are not that great from the lodge--I did not eat there either...expensive and dirty looking...I did enjoy seeing the Mountain up close...walked over a bridge over a river and took some pictures..I could live in this bookstore---I love all the butterflies all over the place...

good bye

short but sweet...did I say funny?

The Sun Is Totally Out Today

It was HOT TODAY ALL DAY....blue skies, blue river, and hot day...wonderful! Went to UU this morning...the sermon was about children and their gifts...so touching..bought a new lawn chair (folding backwards) and sat on my patio over looking the river and Mt. Hood...a time to take a breath and be by myself and rest up!

Pictures in Astoria

Astoria Mini Trip

Went to Astoria today---100 miles both directions; made a big semi square. Cloudy and grey but still nice...traffic was not too bad...just drove slowly and looked at all the trees, trees, farms, shops, and had lunch in Astoria...sweet place. The beginning of their summer Sunday market--bought a bird house.

Desmond Tutu-A Hero for Our Time

What a wonderful lifetime event--to see and hear Desmond Tutu...in Portland at the University of Portland...what a sweet, kind, funny, truthful, elf like, hero for all of us. Went with L1, h, and d.

Spring into Spring Cleaning

what a day makes...my apartment got a GOOD CLEANING....closets, bathroom, living room, desk, kitchen...then a trip to Goodwill...goddess bless them. It feels so much better to have my drawers clean....winter coats and hats put away...even got my hair done...did some school stuff too...but just needed a DAY to be on my own with my own stuff....a bit less now. yea!

One Door Closed but Others Have Opened

This is where I want to go next:

(all of these pictures are from the following site--http://moroccanmaryam.typepad.com/

My Honda Just Had a Major Operation

and I am glad because now it is ready to go and it was preventive work so I don't end up calling in the night if something reallly bad happens....so basically "goodbye" to my tax return. I am grateful I had the money to give it good service and it actually feels better driving it! Way to go, Tune Rite! (recommended by l1)

New Terms in the Northwest

Listening to the news this morning...someone said..."the traffic is pretty hard this morning due to the SUN GLARE"----like in Alaska they have 100 words for ice/snow but here it is words related to rain and new words for sun.

Good Morning SUN

OMG........what a wonderful sunny day---the river is glissing, sparkling, shining...trees have their dresses on now...leaves...omg it is the sun! if you live in Portland you know what this means...and now I do....too.

Funny trash bin on the 7th floor

We Did It--

It is done! I am done! Finished! Over! Gone! Bye! Adios! Later! Take Care!---until the next time but for now---I can rest a bit...had a wonderful day with the n's...UU was tearful...brunch and movie with l,h,d...more tears...now it is raining...more for the crying theme...lots of relief now that it is done and it went sooooooooooo well; had dinner at k last night and tc told stories about corn girl/woman...sweet evening...really enjoyed myself all weekend long.

c in the new building on the 7th floor...looking east; my office will be looking south...from the 7th floor..up up and away.

Day One Done.....yea

I think it was fairly successful...I am so tired, good nite. c

hi

my dear friend b is not feeling --prayers for her

body is hurting

lots of pain today from head to toe...????? rest, CG---anxious and stress re site visit next week. This is the last night for ER---so many memories of this show and other life situations...I don't know what I need or want these days...just doing my thing and feeling overwhelmed with my new position...I have got to find more balance in my life--an ongoing theme in my world...the pix is n in denver...what a beauty she is.

Good Morning

hi--that's all for now.

It is Up to Me Now

Went to the doctor's today...lots going on but I can take some measures to make myself feel better...one step at a time....carpel tunnel in my left wrist...brace for 6 weeks and see how it is responding...plantar fascitis in my right foot...ice packs and rubbing a tennis ball 2 x day...did it already tonight and it feels much better....the body is amazing...

She Has a Southern Accent_that was a surprise

The "She" I am talking about is Heather Armstrong of http://www.dooce.com I sat in the front row (this is typical behavior of an over achieving ex student type); and I laughed and laughed and laughed even more...than I bought her book...how amazing Powell's did what is was tying to do...GET US TO PURCHASE THE BOOK IN SPITE OF ME TELLING MYSELF..YOU WILL NOT BUY THE BOOK...this behavior is similar to how one owes 2 timeshares...oh well...started reading it this morning....after watching a dvd on race for my class on Sat...I need to laugh that's for sure...anyway, l1don't buy the book I will share it with you, ok....it was fun seeing students yesterday...d and n came by then p...8 days until the site visit...who is counting...????? so, back to work now...I just heard a new term "white space" .....yes, it is all around.

a new quarter will be starting---tomorrow

I am so happy that the winter term is over; spring will be good...first the CSWE visit and all that implies....and my new class of SW539==got my income taxes all done...yea! I am planning on walking more each day...I need the stress reduction==time is of the essence..

Change will always happen

It was a pleasant surprise that I did not cry when I was back in Flag---for some reason I thought I would...old stuff that is for sure...I am happy to be back in Portland...saw Mt Hood this evening...what a mountain that is for sure...went on our friendly streetcar downtown and went to Powells and had dinner at the Whole Foods Market---just fun walking around....started on my income taxes earlier in the day and needed a break...then got home and I think I am basically done with them...the majority that is for sure....thank g for turbo taxes software and their easy instructions....my living room looks like a pile of papers and more papers and files...but I am done, at least I think I am....had a nice walk down to Three Degrees and looked at the flowers and seeing all the people starting to come out..it is getting warmer and the day is staying lighter longer...yea for us. This is me in Phx at the Hyatt. I think I like pink!

Return to Portland

I was happy to get back last night...it is cooler here than Phx...cloudy and cool...so refreshing and gentle. I need more softness and peace in my life...too much rushing around and seeing so many people; so I am home...my new home, Portland...s said to me "You came back to us!"--that was sweet...he is so kind and loving. Yes, this is my home and yes, it was nice being in Flag and Phx but again...I have made the transition and happy I am here with my new friends...and my dear friend l1 et al. My apartment is a mess...stuff everywhere---so guess what I will be doing...also, need to work on MY INCOME TAX RETURN. yes oh yes! --I did see stars in Flag...

Phoenix

Had a wonderful time in Flag with my friends! Now in Phx at the conference; so nice a warm and sunny...meeting new people from around the country re future ideas for BSW programs. 

Signing off for a few more days ===

I am here---FLAGSTAFF

kinda a bumpy ride from Phx to Flag but got here about 1:30...Carol was there---went to my favorite Mexican food restuarant--Salsa Brava....drove by my house; no one was there...hopefully I will be able to get in sometime while I am here....the best is that the sky is BLUE AND MORE BLUE. Now it is cloudy but that will change....Carol's new dog is so cute-Elie Mae..."buddy". Really cute markings, brown and soft grey highlights...she is 7 months old. Wonderful to be "home" ...my home....my previous home...and the parking is free! lots of free parking....ha ha 

last day before I travel to Flag

Yea-------going to Flag in the morning...can't wait....sure will be nice to see my buddies....and see the mountain. L1--have a great day at your event tomorrow...I will be thinking of you, --sure proud of you! Thanks for all that you do for our social work profession and teaching. C

Now that the report is done: a cold is coming on

darn...snezzing, ....tired....sure hope it leaves quickly so I will not be sick for Flag.; lots done this afternoon at least; my class for spring and the one I "accidently" got due to some other reasons; UU was very different; we basically mediated for 45 minutes to dvd of the ocean and falling icebergs...guess you had to be there...then went to lunch with some new friends I am making there; a sweet older man and his wife...and t a new male friend. so just being me....then i went to find a place to make keys...no such luck....so i am still on the hunt! watched a netflix movie "November Moon"; a was story in France with great acting.

Starting to Feel Again...

the report will be printed in the morning so it will be GONE...over with for now anyway...starting to really think about being in az again...almost one year...my self esteem is really down due to my weight gain...oh well...accept my self and see my friends....my very dear friends from so many years...saw a video of a dog sleeping and almost fell off my chair with l1 earlier in the day...I have watched it several  times today...just need to laugh out loud and I did. I am really feeling the pressure getting less...so, now to open my mail and relax. 

It is March

Yea it is March....it is sunny today at least right now...done with the mass majority of the benchmark II report...so now I can start to have a more regular life...like getting ready to go to ARIZONA! I got this pix from ali's sister who lives in charlotte, nc.